Improved process for refining oil



UNITED STATES PATE T OFFICE.

E. e. SUTHERIJAND, on SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

IMPROVED PROCESS FOR REFINING OIL.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 56,121, dated July 3,1866.

the oil and forces it out into other tanks, one

of which contains cold water, upon which the oil rests, while the bloodand other debris foreign to the oil are contained in the water or sinksto the bottom. The oil is then drawn into a heater, and from thence,through a steam-coil, into a cooler, when it is carried by means ofpipes or hose, into casks.

To enable others skilled in the art to make use of my improved processfor extracting and refining oils, 1 will proceed to describe theoperation and mode of carrying the sameinto practical effect, to wit:

For carrying the first part of my invention into effect, I use steamtaken from a common boiler, near which is placed a trying kettle ortank, which can be tightly closed, and having aperforated bottom orgrate, upon which the blubber is placed. Steam is admitted into thiskettle or tank by means of a pipe leading from the steam'boiler. Theblubberis placed in this trying-kettle, and steam from the boilerintroduced, which permeates the whole mass and melts the oil entirelyout of it, at the same time forcing the liquid matter through a pipeplaced near the bottom of this kettle or tank into another tank, whichis partially filled with cold water.

The effect of this part of my process is that the liquid matter passesor is forced into this receptacle or tank, where the oil remainsfloating on the top of the water, while the worthless matter-such as theblood, &C.S8tl3l6S to the bottom or is held suspended in the water inthe tank, from whence it can be drawn at will, and fresh water addedafter the oil has been removed, which may be stated as follows, to wit:

A pipe having a stop-cock leads from this material, is placed near thetank or heater last described, in which is placed a coil of pipe orworm. Water is introduced into this tank for the purpose of keeping itcool, which can be removed as often as it becomes heated. The oil is nowtobe drawn off from the heater by means of a pipe into this coil, andpasses through it, from where it is drawn by means of hose or pipes intocasks, and my'process is completed.

By my improved process all of the oil contained in the blubber isextracted, and itis estimated that twenty per cent. more oil can beobtained and of five per cent. higher value, as the oil is notdiscolored, as in the process now in use, in which the blood is allowedto mingle with the oil, imparting to it a dark color.

The danger of burning the oil by direct contact with the fire is alsoobviated by my process, while it exists to a great extent in that now inuse, while a large percentage of the oil cannot be extracted by theprocesses now in use for fear of burning the oil during the tryingprocess, and, finally, if the oil is drawn directly into the casks whilehot, they will be more or less injured and become leaky, causing a largepercentage of loss by leakage.

Having thus described myprocess for extracting and refining oil fromwhales and other marine animals and fishes, so as to enable any personskilled in the art to make use of the same, I will proceed to state whatI claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, to wit:

The within-described process for extracting and refining oil from whalesand other marine animals and fishes, all substantially as described, andfor the purposes set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this15th day of August, A. D. 1865.

E. o. SUTHERLAND. n s.]

